New to nature questions

[Dave127]

I went out today to try my hand at nature shots. As usual I came back with more questions than answers. I live in a very populated suburb and was surprised at what animals I was able to find in a small park by my house. I even surprised a red fox when I stepped on a twig about 5 feet from where he was sleeping or hiding. I don’t know who was more surprised and unfortunately couldn’t get the camera raised in time to get the shot off.
When I got home and down load my shots, I was surprised at how few I would actually keep or show. I was using a Canon 30D, 100-400 4.5-5.6 IS, circular polarizer and a mono pod.

1 I had a lot of blur even with the mono pod. Is there a good way to hold/stabilize the camera? Or is a tri pod a must?

2 Some of the shots in shaded areas look green. Should I have removed the polarizer?

3 What ISO? I was shooting at 100 but I think I should have raised it to allow for a faster shutter helping with the blur and stopping the animals movement.

I should also state that this was the first time I’ve used this lens.

Any advise is appreciated. Thanks Dave

 

[Overread]

hmm lets have a look at some of your keepers if we may.
As general advice you can get away with the cannon 100-400 hand held if you turn on the image stabalization feature (don't turn it on when using a tirpod though as then it looks for the little movements that are not present and makes the shot blurry - this might or might not also happen when using it on a monopod)

2) Unless you are shooting at the sky a lot I would take off the polarizer.

3) ISO increase light senstivity - the higher the ISO the more light gets into the shot (poor explination). For still landscapes and buildings 100 is the best. For wildlife I would look to 400 - boosting to 800 at times when you are not in the brightest of light. You might get more noise in these shots, but you can remove a good amout in post production.

Also what mode were you shooting in? ap - apature priority mode is really the best - with apature as wide as you can (that means the smallest f number you have).

 

[Dave127]

hmm lets have a look at some of your keepers if we may.
As general advice you can get away with the cannon 100-400 hand held if you turn on the image stabalization feature (don't turn it on when using a tirpod though as then it looks for the little movements that are not present and makes the shot blurry - this might or might not also happen when using it on a monopod)

2) Unless you are shooting at the sky a lot I would take off the polarizer.

3) ISO increase light senstivity - the higher the ISO the more light gets into the shot (poor explination). For still landscapes and buildings 100 is the best. For wildlife I would look to 400 - boosting to 800 at times when you are not in the brightest of light. You might get more noise in these shots, but you can remove a good amout in post production.

Also what mode were you shooting in? ap - apature priority mode is really the best - with apature as wide as you can (that means the smallest f number you have).

Thanks I’m working on uploading the photos to show what I’m talking about.

I thought the polarizer was bad and should have left a UV filter on instead.

I was shooting in manual mode and I have left the aperture as low as it would go, 4.5-5.6 depending on the focal length. I also have a 70-200 2.8 IS and so far love it a lot more. I bought this lens for the extra reach because I didn’t want to use an extender to keep better Image quality.

The IS was on mode one.

 

[Overread]

hmm I have decided to get a 70-200 f2.8 IS and use the teleconverters for it - granted its a lower quality, esp when using the 2*TC - but it should keep me going till I can get my mits on a 300 f2.8 --long times away though!

I would move out of manual (a little too easy at time to get the shutter speed wrong when walking about and changing conditions) and use ap.
As for filters - might be a better idea to set your exposure compensation (when working in ap mode or adjusting setting in manual) to -1 to counter the harsher daylight and preserve the whites better
Out of interst are you shooting in RAW mode?

 

[Dave127]

hmm I have decided to get a 70-200 f2.8 IS and use the teleconverters for it - granted its a lower quality, esp when using the 2*TC - but it should keep me going till I can get my mits on a 300 f2.8 --long times away though!

I would move out of manual (a little too easy at time to get the shutter speed wrong when walking about and changing conditions) and use ap.
As for filters - might be a better idea to set your exposure compensation (when working in ap mode or adjusting setting in manual) to -1 to counter the harsher daylight and preserve the whites better
Out of interst are you shooting in RAW mode?

Yes I shout in Raw. I did have to adjust the shuter for varing light conditions. Between walking in and out of the light, and clouds off and on, I was looking at the meter.

I thought about getting a 1.4 and may wish I did. I was hoping to use this new lens for out door sports action but I don't know now.

I'm working on a web site, but don't have one yet. I need to host the pictures to post them up.

 

[kundalini]

Another possibility is that your lens may go soft at its full focal length (400mm). Don't know the specs of it, but it is not an uncommon trait.

Perhaps I should start trying Av and Tv priority more often....mmmm....I stay in Manual 99% of the time.

 

[Overread]

Try http://photobucket.com/
for hosting your photo - works well and simple to upload to (batch uploading is great!)

The 70-200mm only performs as well as the 100-400 at the 400mm end when stopped down to f8 so you have a good light advantage with the 100-400. One thing I would recomend though is to get some 100% crops of about 100pixels on the longest side from the edge and middle of your 100-400 and ask for some comparisons from others with that lens as I have known the 100-400 to suffer from some configuration errors in production. Its nothing massive most of the time and I belive that canon will correct it within warrenty or under some other such thing (never done this myself, but it was something that I considered doing with the 100-400)
Also its not a problem that has been around much in recent years - more something that bugged early models so don't fret!

 

[Dave127]

Well lets give this a try. I hope they are sized correctly.

This was one of the last photos I took.

Over exposed from the sun I believe on the top of the shell.

This on is a little blury in my opinion.

This on was had to get. He/she kept going under and the sheel was about 1 1/2 feet long. I will keep working on him.

Give me your honest opinions. I know I have work to do and want to hear what I need to work on. Thanks

 

[Dave127]

Try http://photobucket.com/
for hosting your photo - works well and simple to upload to (batch uploading is great!)

The 70-200mm only performs as well as the 100-400 at the 400mm end when stopped down to f8 so you have a good light advantage with the 100-400. One thing I would recomend though is to get some 100% crops of about 100pixels on the longest side from the edge and middle of your 100-400 and ask for some comparisons from others with that lens as I have known the 100-400 to suffer from some configuration errors in production. Its nothing massive most of the time and I belive that canon will correct it within warrenty or under some other such thing (never done this myself, but it was something that I considered doing with the 100-400)
Also its not a problem that has been around much in recent years - more something that bugged early models so don't fret!

Thanks I just started a flikr site for now.

I appreciate the vote of confidence in the 100-400. I would hate to think I didn't spend the money wisely. I just may do that.

 

[Dave127]

Different lens from 2 weeks ago. 24-70 2.8.

Yeah I know it looks like I have a thing for turtles. I assure you it's just a coincidence.

 

[Dave127]

Another possibility is that your lens may go soft at its full focal length (400mm). Don't know the specs of it, but it is not an uncommon trait.

Perhaps I should start trying Av and Tv priority more often....mmmm....I stay in Manual 99% of the time.

I was experimenting today and can see the lens going soft a little at 400. I removed the filter and the discoloration is gone. I also cranked the ISO to 800 but I still have some blurry shots at farther focal lengths. I need to control my movement better.

 

[darkpbstar]

Those are the cutest turtles ever! those are quite amazing, I want to hold it! Amazing. what time of year did you get these, and where, just on a shore? I would love to go find some turtle hatchlings to photograph.

 

[Dave127]

Those are the cutest turtles ever! those are quite amazing, I want to hold it! Amazing. what time of year did you get these, and where, just on a shore? I would love to go find some turtle hatchlings to photograph.

Thanks. I was at the Jersey shore for Memorial Day weekend with my 10 year old son and nephew. I was teaching my nephew how to ride a bike running up and down the street. My son, who was getting in the way, says “dad I found a baby turtle” I was like now way that’s a rock in the road. I almost stepped on/kicked it a dozen times. But obviously he was right. It was crossing the road from houses going across the street to the marsh. I looked but couldn’t find the nest or any others. I took the some pictures on the sand to put the turtle into perspective, but wish I used a quarter. It was tiny. My wife and son wanted to take him home, but I felt it would have been cruel, besides we have enough animals/pets. LOL